PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Buckley

Publications and source records attributed to W Buckley.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Zyme, a novel and potentially amyloidogenic enzyme cDNA isolated from Alzheimer's disease brain.

The deposition of the beta amyloid peptide in neuritic plaques and cerebral blood vessels is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. The major component of the amyloid deposit is a 4.2-kDa polypeptide termed amyloid beta-protein of 39-43 residues, which is derived from processing of a larger amyloid precursor protein (APP). It is hypothesized that a chymotrypsin-like enzyme is involved in the processing of APP. We have discovered a new serine protease from the AD brain by polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA sequences representing active site homologous regions of chymotrypsin-like enzymes. A cDNA clone was identified as one out of one million that encodes Zyme, a serine protease. Messenger RNA encoding Zyme can be detected in some mammalian species but not in mice, rats, or hamster. Zyme is expressed predominantly in brain, kidney, and salivary gland. Zyme mRNA cannot be detected in fetal brain but is seen in adult brain. The Zyme gene maps to chromosome 19q13.3, a region which shows genetic linkage with late onset familial Alzheimer's disease. When Zyme cDNA is co-expressed with the APP cDNA in 293 (human embryonic kidney) cells, amyloidogenic fragments are detected using C-terminal antibody to APP. These co-transfected cells release an abundance of truncated amyloid beta-protein peptide and shows a reduction of residues 17-42 of Abeta (P3) peptide. Zyme is immunolocalized to perivascular cells in monkey cortex and the AD brain. In addition, Zyme is localized to microglial cells in our AD brain sample. The amyloidogenic potential and localization in brain may indicate a role for this protease in amyloid precursor processing and AD.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Anabolic steroid use: indications of habituation among adolescents.

The use of anabolic steroids (AS) by adolescent males is argued to be more widespread than currently acknowledged. Although the long-term physiological and psychological ramifications of use are not well established, current research and anecdotal information suggest that there is reason for concern. In addition, very little is known about the attitudes and behaviors of these adolescent AS users. While the debate concerning the physiological versus the psychological dependence liability of various drugs continues to evolve, there seems to be a consensus that drug dependence is not a per se phenomenon and that the characteristics of dependence differ in accordance with the drug being used. The following article attempts to identify characteristics of the adolescent male AS user and suggests that AS use does have a dependence potential. The AS user population was found to be significantly different from nonusers in several areas such as self-perceptions of health and strength, interest in controlling AS use, and perceptions of peer AS use. The AS user group was also found to contain several subgroups (heavy users [greater than or equal to 5 cycles] versus other users, and those who initiated use prior to age sixteen who reported significantly different attitudes and/or behaviors. These differences suggest that prevention efforts will have to focus on different motivations for AS use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Investigation of 89 children born by drug-dependent mothers. I. Neonatal course.

Among 89 infants born by opiate- and methadone-addicted mothers 20% were preterm and 31% were light for gestational age. Mean gestational age and birth weight were lower in infants of mothers who had taken mainly opiates compared with infants of mothers who had taken mainly methadone. Preterm labor was more frequent among women who had been acutely withdrawn on methadone within the last month before birth than among women who were maintained on methadone at birth. 85% of the newborns had withdrawal symptoms and 12% had convulsions the severity of which was not correlated with the type of drug abuse. The duration of withdrawal, however, correlated with the amount of methadone taken by the mother at birth. 20% had signs of perinatal asphyxia and had an increased frequency of neonatal convulsions. These babies represent a special high-risk group of newborns. Prevention, therapy and care demand extraordinary combined efforts by politicians, social welfare personnel, midwives, doctors and nurses.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Investigation of 89 children born by drug-dependent mothers. II. Follow-up 1-10 years after birth.

72 of 89 children born by opiate- and methadone-addicted mothers were reinvestigated 1 to 10 years after birth. Only 25% were found to by physically, mentally and behaviorally normal. 56% were hyperactive, aggressive, with a lack of concentration and social inhibition. 10% had a severely and 11% a moderately impaired psycho-motor development mainly due to deprivation. 43% of the children had been removed from their mothers by the courts. The average number of shifts from one milieu to another was 6 per child with an upper range of 30 shifts for some of the children. The average number of shifts from one caregiver to another was 5 with an upper range of 11. These findings indicate that there is an urgent need for politicians, social welfare and health personnel to reexamine their roles in helping these children, who will otherwise develop into a new generation of social loosers.

Adult↗